Darkness before harvest effects?

I’ve googled and found a ton of posts based on this process. So I thought it would get some more info because people expect some sort of increase in potency or something... so my questions are:

1. Has anyone tried giving their plants 24-72 hours of darkness before harvest? If so, what growing medium were you in and did you water before placing them in darkness?

2. What difference did you see in these harvested buds? (I don’t expect a difference in potency, but a difference in flavor/harshness.)

I’m curious because I had a friend who would give his plants 2 weeks of darkness and I found his bud to be the best smoking bud I’ve ever had. In those 2 weeks the bud would also be curing obviously, so maybe it’s just the curing process that’s giving the buds a better smoke?

The reason I think darkness is also effective is because the plant will bring nutrients in from the tops down to the stems/roots thinking that the tops aren’t getting light so it will try to redirect those nutrients to a top that is getting light to try and survive, but since no tops are getting light, it’s basically just flushing itself out and dies and dries with its nutrients away from the flowers. From a survival perspective it makes sense, and you can see it for yourself. If you don’t give a top enough light, the plant tries to kill the top off and it becomes flimsy and basically prunes itself. Let me know what you guys think.

I’ve done it many times, no difference noticed. I still do it, only reason is because I’m lazy and cheap. Why pay for power when it’s not needed.

I’ll kill the lights last couple days and stop feeding, wait for the pots to dry out, then harvest.

420rganix said:

I had a friend who would give his plants 2 weeks of darkness

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Wow

someone could do a side by side with 2 clones and have both tested before darkness as well as after. people also harvest in the darkness before lights on because they say it smells better at that time. i also tried 36 hours dark at flip and it had a noticeable effect of a little yellowing at the flowering points but don't know how important that was in the long run.

Only benefit for me leaving them in a dark dungeon .....

I wet trim before they go down in the “ hole “ .... think prisoner getting buzz cut before lock up.
Leave them in there for no other reason other than chopping on my “ own schedule “ not worrying about lights on.
There they marinate in their juices like a steak resting after cooking ....

Sometimes I just leave them there to start “ drying “ out in pot .... then cut and hang whenever I get home.

No noticeable bennies here. How much does your plant grow in a few days. Not much. And less in the dark. Minor drop in chloro. Bigger drop in sugar processing as dictated by those same chloro's. Your call. You'll never be singled out either way on it. Enjoy the ends. Forget the gimmicks.

Youtube so take from it what you will but he does back it up with some test results.

Worthwhile vid thanks for posting

bk78 said:

I’ve done it many times, no difference noticed. I still do it, only reason is because I’m lazy and cheap. Why pay for power when it’s not needed.

I’ll kill the lights last couple days and stop feeding, wait for the pots to dry out, then harvest.

Click to expand...

I pretty much do the same. I use a colder room and give at least 2 days. Longer if pot is still moist.

Do you let the pot get seriously dry before chopping? Ive been testing out the moisture stress theory* at week 7, letting plant dry to wilting for a day or 2. Not exactly the same protocols as article but interested to check anecdotal results.

radiant Rudy said:

Worthwhile vid thanks for posting


I pretty much do the same. I use a colder room and give at least 2 days. Longer if pot is still moist.

Do you let the pot get seriously dry before chopping? Ive been testing out the moisture stress theory* at week 7, letting plant dry to wilting for a day or 2. Not exactly the same protocols as article but interested to check anecdotal results.

Click to expand...

Well I only work when its convenient for me. So I’ll kill the lights on Wednesday and harvest on Saturday morning. I find if I let the plants completely go bone dry the branches become way too rubbery/floppy?

I think it's best to look at science to see if this has any merit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4379750/

Looks like it does! Most plants will start to starve after just hours after still being in darkness after their designated "morning". Likely you wont see much benefit longer than 24 hours of darkness, considering most of their excess carbohydrates in reserve will already have been totally consumed. But since sugar and starch doesn't get us high, there's no sense in smoking it! Let the plant use it up before harvesting.

I didn't watch the video, I think alone darkness is a terrible idea but if your not watering its a great idea. With watering it could add to issues